[fishheadback]

Ok, so Ive been doing some searching and all I have come up with is, oh your washer fluid is frozen etc etc etc. But I dont think my problem falls into that category.



So whats goin on is, I pull back on the wiper stalk, and nothing happens at all. Wipers dont move, no fluid, nothing. It looked to me like there were three fuses in the glovebox related to that component, and they are all ok. I used the washer a few weeks ago and it worked fine.

Now if you turn the wipers on, either stalk up, down, or Auto, they work fine. It has been very cold the past week or so, but I figured even if the fluid was frozen, which it isnt, the wipers would still do the 3 pass.

What am I overlooking??

Thanks in advance

No headlight washers by the way.

[infbp22]

I'm having a brain lapse (3am) but this is my guess...

The vehicle is equipped with a rain/light sensor. the wipers MAY not move unless it detects water on the windshield. I think this is overridden though when doing the wash function.

Simple test: while activating it (when its not working) have someone pour some water on the windshield. If the wipers work, you may have a blockage in the washer pump strainer/delivery issue.

If they still don't work it maybe be whats called the steering angle sensor w/ slip ring. This is the communication link between the wiper stalk switch and the vehicle network. The SZL is subject to a lot of movement and has been known to cause intermittent stalk switch failures (turn signals, etc). Try moving the steering wheel around and see if it comes back to life.

Just a shot in the dark

[slowSwede]

I'm pretty sure it's not the fluid that's frosen.
When that happens to me the wipers always go off when I try to spray.

[fdriller9]

Do your wipers work normally? Without using the washer fluid?

If your fluid previously froze, the expansion could easily crack hoses and the filter inside the tank. If any debris got into the lines it could be clogged. Especially if the filter broke, maybe pieces went into your lines?

Have you checked the fluid? I know there is a sensor but maybe that's faulty?

Have you checked for any leaks? When you're stationary, try using the washer fluid and see if any fluid comes out under the car.

[fishheadback]

The wipers work in any mode except the wash position.

Pull the stalk back and nothing happens at all, dont hear the pump, wipers dont move.

It got really cold one morning and I used it, it sprayed and wiped but the fluid froze on my windshield. Right after that (20min) I siphoned out that fluid and put in some winter fluid. And now it doesnt do anything at all.

I tried to pull back on the stalk and pour water on the windshield to trigger the sensor but the wipers didnt budge.

[slowSwede]

The only time that has happened to me is when the wipers has stuck to the window due to ice. They simply freeze, but this doesn't seem to be your problem.

There should be no problems trying to spray and everything freezes from the chilling effects of the wind. Happens a number of times each season when driving in really cold weather.

Sound more like there's something that has broken, if not it's something that has frozen up on you. Try parking in a warm place for a couple of hours and see if that works.
I better add some antifreeze before heading out...

[HpDellNestle]

3 switches attach to a light bulb.
Turn Switch A, light on
Turn Switch B, light on
Turn switch C, light won't turn on
3 guesses which one is broken.

--smart axx HpDellNestle

[WayneDoodle]

Sounds like a bad relay.

[fishheadback]

-----UPDATE------


Ok, so it got up to around 47* here today, and they work! I just got right in my car, started it up and tried the washer and it went right away.

But that still leaves me confused.

Is there some failsafe to keep it from working when it gets cold or what?

Or maybe my car is just wierd. Its been almost 2weeks of them NEVER working.

I guess Ill just keep an eye on it and go from there.

[HVYWGHT]

The same thing happened to me a few weeks ago when it was bitter cold and the car had sat out. Nothing would happen when pulling to wash but the wipers would wipe. By the time I got home (1hr drive on the highway), the pull back would cause the wipers to swipe and the pump to make noise but still no fluid. After sitting in the garage overnight (not outside like the day before) where it was around 40F, all was well and it hasn't happened again.

I don't know why, but believe the fluid and everything in the lines was just frozen. I put lower freezing point washer fluid in to be sure too.

[PUKI]

I have got the same problem as you. I am living in the tropical country. When I trigger the wiper stalk the water spraying very little, like the water pump are not working.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by PUKI

I have got the same problem as you. I am living in the tropical country. When I trigger the wiper stalk the water spraying very little, like the water pump are not working.

I recently had that problem. A small amount of fluid would come out of the nozzles, none out of the headlight washers, but the rear window washer worked normally. And there was also a small pool of fluid under the left front of the car.

The dealer found a clogged filter which they cleaned under warranty. Problem fixed.

Tom

[markehz]

Originally Posted by fishheadback

Ok, so Ive been doing some searching and all I have come up with is, oh your washer fluid is frozen etc etc etc. But I dont think my problem falls into that category.



So whats goin on is, I pull back on the wiper stalk, and nothing happens at all. Wipers dont move, no fluid, nothing. It looked to me like there were three fuses in the glovebox related to that component, and they are all ok. I used the washer a few weeks ago and it worked fine.

Now if you turn the wipers on, either stalk up, down, or Auto, they work fine. It has been very cold the past week or so, but I figured even if the fluid was frozen, which it isnt, the wipers would still do the 3 pass.

What am I overlooking??

Thanks in advance

No headlight washers by the way.

I know this thread is old, but I'm having the exact same problem.
It's also quite cold right now around here, but it wouldn't make any sense that this feature doesn't work when cold.

[thefrog1394]

Same issue here. Ran our of washer fluid and/or the fluid froze up. Added more fluid and the low washer fluid light went off. But now when I pull the wiper stalk nothing happens. Doesn't even sound like the pump is making any noise. No wiper movements at all. It is around 6 degrees here so hoping the issue is just that the wiper fluid froze up and that there is some sort of failsafe to prevent the wipers from wiping without fluid. Guess we'll see when it warms up. In the mean time I'll be trying not to crash looking through a salt-covered windshield.

[JustDriveIt]

There's a filter that costs 16cents that gets clogged up pretty easily. BMW charges $300 to replace it. You have to take the front-right wheel off. I remember finding a DIY here that had pictures and videos but now for the life of me I can not find it and of course it's something I need to do.

[Shaolin976]

I've got the same problem with no cold weather. It's 70 degrees here. My wipers work fine. My back wiper and spray work fine. When I try and use the front spray nothing happens. No wiper movement. No "small amount of fluid" coming out. No sound from the pump. Nothing. I checked the 3 fuses listed. Ideas?

[demian5]

Originally Posted by fishheadback

Ok, so Ive been doing some searching and all I have come up with is, oh your washer fluid is frozen etc etc etc. But I dont think my problem falls into that category.



So whats goin on is, I pull back on the wiper stalk, and nothing happens at all. Wipers dont move, no fluid, nothing. It looked to me like there were three fuses in the glovebox related to that component, and they are all ok. I used the washer a few weeks ago and it worked fine.

Now if you turn the wipers on, either stalk up, down, or Auto, they work fine. It has been very cold the past week or so, but I figured even if the fluid was frozen, which it isnt, the wipers would still do the 3 pass.

What am I overlooking??

Thanks in advance

No headlight washers by the way.

I know this is a very old thread, but what was the fix?

I found this to help me. Seems the issue would be the level sensor.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...7#post21971217

[JonOhh]

Despite this thread being many years old at this point, I feel the need to add this because it could have been helpful when I had this issue.

If pulling the stalk to the "wash" position results in absolutely nothing happening (no pump noise, no wiper movement, no headlight washers, no relay clicking) it IS possible for the washer pump itself to be at fault.

When my 06' had this issue, I was initially concerned the stalk itself had failed (not cheap!), but after months of it not working, I replaced the pump with a Febi unit from FCP (was stupid cheap, I believe in the realm of $10) and immediately, the wash function, with wipers, headlight washers, and sprayers, began to work again.


I hope this helps anyone else who comes across this issue.

Cheers